Cleveland Indians Should Start Jose Ramirez in Center Field

Jose Ramirez Should Start in Center Field for the Cleveland Indians

The Cleveland Indians were dealt a blow to their outfield with the loss of Abraham Almonte after he was suspended 80 games for failing a drug test. This loss leaves an already thin outfield core looking for someone to step up and be the starting center fielder. There are no shortage of options for this including Rajai Davis and Collin Cowgill, among others. Nicholas Blaze highlighted the Indians’ issues in the outfield and some of the players that could be looked upon to step up in the absence of Almonte and Michael Brantley. For me though, one player that the Indians need to strongly consider using in center field is Jose Ramirez.

Should Ramirez Start At Any Position?

The first question when considering Ramirez starting in center field is whether or not he deserves to start anywhere, let alone center field. I mean, he was given the starting shortstop position to begin the 2015 season and he really struggled offensively, creating a big hole in the lineup and eventually leading to top prospect Francisco Lindor being called up to replace him. Overall his offensive numbers definitely left much to be desired in 2015. He hit only .219/.291/.340 for the year. Hardly numbers you want from a starter at any position.

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However, things really turned around for him in the second half as he hit .259 with a .775 OPS (on-base plus slugging) and 114 wRC+ (weighted runs created). Small sample size? Absolutely, but it’™s still a very encouraging sign from someone as young as Ramirez. His plate discipline, which has always been a big part of his game, saw a marked turnaround in the second half as well. His walk rate jumped from 7.5% in the first half to 10.4% in the second while his strikeout rate went from 13.9% to just 8.2% (yes, he walked more than he struck out in the second half). If he can keep that up for an entire season, watch out…

Ramirez Showing Some Power

Probably the most intriguing part of Ramirez’s second half resurgence was the big increase in power. In the first half, Ramirez hit just one home run and had only seven extra base hits in 173 plate appearances, which equated to a mere .059 ISO (isolated power). In the second half, however, Ramirez hit five home runs and had 16 extra base hits in 182 plate appearances, giving him a rather impressive .179 ISO.

Now again, it was just a half of a season and only 182 plate appearances, very small sample size; however, it was still an impressive display by Ramirez. So could Ramirez be developing some power? It wouldn’t be the first time we saw a young middle infielder develop power as we saw Asdrubal Cabrera eventually develop some decent pop. Small sample size or not, it’s still encouraging to see.

Next: Can Ramirez Handle CF?

Can Ramirez Handle CF?

Once you get by the question of should Ramirez start at all, the next debate is can he handle center field? It’s a legit question. Ramirez has played only three games in center field as a professional, all with the Columbus Clippers in 2014. In fact, he has only appeared in the outfield eight times (twice in Cleveland and six times in Triple-A Columbus). So why on earth would I suggest starting Ramirez there? Well, the history of infielders moving to the outfield and being successful plays a part…

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One young player who has recently made the move from middle infielder to centerfield that comes to mind when I think of Jose Ramirez is Cincinnati’s Billy Hamilton. Hamilton was originally a star shortstop prospects in the Reds’™ system before moving to second base (due to lack of range at shortstop) and eventually landing in center field with the presence of Brandon Phillips at second base. Hamilton, like Ramirez, is very athletic and has the quickness you want in a center fielder. Yes, Hamilton is on another level of fast than Ramirez; probably the fastest player in the game today. However, it doesn’t take the best speed in the game to be able to transition from the infield to the outfield. Heck, Cleveland’™s own Lonnie Chisenhall moved from third base to right field last year and made the transition looked easy as well.

There are other infielders that have made moves to the outfield. Tampa Bay’s Melvin Upton made the move to center field after bouncing around the infield for a couple years. Alex Gordon of the Royals made the move from third base to left field. All four of the players I mentioned (Hamilton, Chisenhall, Upton, and Gordon) have been considered one of the best defensively at their new position. So why couldn’t Ramirez be the next to make that jump?

Obviously moving to the outfield is not as simple as guys like Chisenhall have made it look. We saw how Luis Valbuena looked in left field when given the chance (reminder: it wasn’t pretty). However, Valbuena also didn’t get many chances out there. Who’s to say he doesn’t become at least competent in the outfield if left there?

Next: Why Not Naquin in CF?

Why Not Use Naquin in CF?

Outfielder Tyler Naquin has become a bit of a fan favorite this spring and for good reason. He’s hitting over .400 with an OPS over 1.100 in big league camp. He’s also playing a very solid defensive outfield (it is his natural position after all). He’s on the 40-man roster as well, so why Ramirez over him in center field? Well, there a few reasons…

For as good as Naquin has looked this spring, it has been less than 30 plate appearances. Hardly enough of a sample size to make a determination one way or another on if a guy is ready. And even if it was, not like Ramirez has been much off Naquin’s pace. Ramirez is hitting .333 with an OPS over 1.000 this spring. He’s also added a pair of home runs (tied for second most on the club). But again, Spring Training numbers are just too few to draw any real conclusions.

Both players did play at Triple-A Columbus last year. Naquin didn’t get as much playing time there due to injury and beginning the year at Double-A Akron, but in over 200 plate appearances he had a lower batting average and on-base percentage than Ramirez had at the same level.  To some this may not matter, especially considering his OBP was merely .001 less. I mean, this was Naquin’s first taste of Triple-A, whereas Ramirez spent time there in 2014 as well. However, consider that Jose Ramirez is actually younger than Tyler Naquin. In fact, Ramirez was the second youngest player to play for the Columbus Clippers in 2015 (Lindor). Naquin played the entire year at 24 years old while Ramirez was merely 22 for his entire time at Triple-A.

Some may scoff at the age difference mattering, but it should not be overlooked how young Ramirez is and how much growing he still has left to do as a player. He was rushed to the big leagues and it’s hurt him offensively, but he’s proven capable of still putting up good overall numbers. Maybe Naquin could be as good as Ramirez, but given the upside people felt Ramirez had and how he’s actually about 18 months younger, don’t discount Ramirez and think he’s just a utility guy. He deserves a shot at center field as much, if not more than Naquin.

I also think some forget how highly some rated Ramirez as a prospect. Keith Law rated him as one of his top 110 prospects back before the 2013 season. Naquin, for as good a prospect as he is, has not come close to cracking a top 100/110 prospect list. I’m not saying prospects lists are why Ramirez should start, but let’s not forget the potential everyone saw in Ramirez when he was barely out of his teenage years. 

Next: So Will Ramirez Start in CF?

So Will Ramirez Start in CF?

If I was a betting man, I’d say the odds of Jose Ramirez starting in center field Opening Day are pretty low.  I do think he’ll get some starts in the outfield, be it left field or center field. However, he will in all likelihood also be the utility man for the club and be needed to spell Juan Uribe at third base. Francona may not want to give Ramirez a starting gig at one position and prefer to use him as a “super-utility” type guy, getting starts at four or five different positions. Francona has said that he wants to get Ramirez some time in both left field and center field this spring, and it looks like today we’ll finally get a look at that.

At the end of the day, there’s only one way to find out if Ramirez can handle center field: play him there. I mean, what’s the worst that can happen? If he struggles this spring and looks so bad then you go another route and use Ramirez at third base and some second and short. But what if he shows he can handle center field? Given his improving offense and his abilities on the bases, Ramirez could turn into an All-Star caliber starting center fielder. Think Billy Hamilton in Cincinnati but with much better offense. Impossible? Some may say so, but I vehemently disagree.

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So I say, give Ramirez center field and let him prove he can’t handle it. You got nothing to lose trying it…